Eastern Broadacre Planning Study

What is the Eastern Broadacre Planning Study? The ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) is looking at ways to create an employment corridor in the eastern area of the ACT (incorporating the area from Majura to Hume). This is consistent with actions identified in The Canberra Spatial Plan (2004), the ACT Government’s key plan for the growth of Canberra over the next 30 years. Much of the area to the city’s east is currently zoned Broadacre under The Territory Plan. The Eastern Broadacre Planning Study will help identify areas which may be suitable for future development for employment uses, and those which should be set aside for environmental, transport or other needs. It may lead to changes to the Territory Plan to provide a greater range of employment uses (such as industry, commercial, warehousing, tourism etc).

Why examine Eastern Broadacre? The Canberra Spatial Plan identified the eastern edge of the ACT as a future ‘employment corridor’. The area is close to the NSW border and contains key transport services such as the airport, and existing industrial areas. There are other reasons why we need to investigate employment uses in this area including:

Future Employment Corridor. Source: Canberra Spatial Plan (2004)

• current and future shortages of serviced industrial land in the ACT • completion of planning studies in parts of the study area e.g.: Hume and Symonston recommending future potential land uses • proposed residential land releases in Queanbeyan which require consideration of transport connections and an increased demand for employment • regional planning such as the release of the Sydney – Canberra Corridor Strategy (2008) which predicts population and employment growth in the wider region over the next 30 years • release of the 2008 Preliminary Draft Canberra International Airport Masterplan which provides economic development opportunities in the area • key infrastructure proposals such as the upgrading of Majura Road which will improve access to the area. The planning study will allow us to decide appropriate employment uses ahead of time. STUDY AREA

The Eastern Broadacre Study Area

The study area The eastern broadacre area is located on the eastern edge of the ACT, between Civic and the Kowen Plateau. It is close to the NSW border and contains key infrastructure including Majura Road, the Monaro Highway and the Canberra International Airport. It also includes industrial areas at Symonston, Hume and Fyshwick.

Other background studies Several technical studies and plans have been prepared for parts of the area in recent years including: • Southern Broadacre Planning Study (2005) • Fyshwick Planning Studies (2006- 2008) • Hume Industrial Planning Study (2007) • East Lake Draft Planning Study (2007) • Preliminary Draft Canberra International Airport Masterplan (2009) These background studies and plans have informed the Eastern Broadacre Planning Study, which also looks beyond the area, taking a regional perspective by considering the potential for future long-term urban development at Kowen and Queanbeyan, and the Sydney – Canberra Corridor Regional Planning Strategy (2008).

STUDY AREA Aerial Map of Study Area

The study The following steps have taken place to help prepare the study: Initial consultation - with government, industry and the community. Further consultation will occur as investigations and planning progresses Economic assessment - to determine market supply and demand, and future employment needs Land capability assessment – to broadly identify ecological, heritage, landscape, infrastructure and other considerations and opportunities in the area.

Initial consultation Consultation has occurred with government, industry and community stakeholders including: Department of Defence; Australian Federal Police; Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; National Capital Authority; ACT and NSW Government agencies; Queanbeyan City Council; Canberra International Airport; Property Council of Australia; Capital Region Area Consultative Committee; ACT Rural Landholders Association; Pialligo Residents Association; Majura Valley lessees and others. Consultation assisted in identifying issues and the intentions of major uses e.g. Defence and AFP remaining in the study area.

STUDY AREA Previous Studies Undertaken in Eastern Broadacre

Economic assessment This assessment includes an extensive review of employment land supply and demand, ACT and regional strategies, national and international trends for employment lands, and best practice planning approaches. It examines: • current and future demand for employment land in the ACT • existing and future supply of employment land in the ACT • need for employment land in the eastern broadacre area based on supply/ demand and the likely labour force. The economic assessment establishes that there is an inadequate supply of industrial land to accommodate growth to 2051 and highlights the employment sectors and land requirements that could be investigated further.

Land capability assessment The total study area is approximately 9922 hectares, however due to existing uses in the area, including Defence and other Commonwealth uses, the airport and conservation areas, only parts of the area can be investigated for future development.

Defence, AFP and Airport Lands within the Study Area

The land capability assessment takes into account studies on heritage, ecology, landscape, infrastructure, transport, flooding, aircraft noise, land ownership and leases. It broadly identifies areas that may be suitable for future employment and other uses. Draft amendments to planning controls would be required to the Territory Plan and National Capital Plan for any proposed land use changes in the study area. Public consultation would occur in relation to any draft amendments.

Consultation Initial consultation with government, industry and community stakeholders

Ongoing consultaton

In addition to consultation already undertaken, ACTPLA intends to undertake the following: • advise rural lessees, community groups and key stakeholders of key findings as the study progresses • update information on the study on our website http://www.actpla.act.gov.au

Conduct study

• undertake consultation once government has considered the study findings (2009) • undertake consultation on any future draft Variations to the Territory Plan resulting from the study

Report study to government

• consult with the community on any future detailed plans for particular locations in the study area.

What happens now? Consultation on study findings

Report to government

It is intended that the study be reported to Government in mid 2009, with community consultation following later in the year. Details on consultation will be provided on our website at www.actpla.act.gov.au and in the Canberra Times or Chronicle newspapers.

Detailed consultation on any draft planning proposals eg: draft Variation to the Territory Plan

Report to government

Future consultation as further planning occurs

Left: Indicative Study Process